As far as I know, it's perfectly legal to own body armor just about everywhere.

It is illegal in many areas to use body armor while in the commission of a crime. So long as you don't commit crimes, you're fine.

gaudio5

May 4, 2007, 08:44 PM

i think its illegal to buy if your a felon aswell.

Mannix

May 4, 2007, 08:48 PM

If you can buy guns, you can buy body armor, though it isn't cheap(though I've seen police surplus around 300)

Mot45acp

May 4, 2007, 08:51 PM

I sent the seller an e mail asking why. I will post response.

theken206

May 4, 2007, 09:08 PM

so us cake eaters can own body armor?? really?? up to what class?? 2??

Mot45acp

May 4, 2007, 09:15 PM

Reply: "I wanted to sell it to an officer who might use it to save his life. But if you want it I will sell for the price listed."

OK sounds like a reasonable answer to me. If you are a LEO aren't you requried to wear body armor?

Mannix

May 4, 2007, 09:30 PM

If you are a LEO aren't you requried to wear body armor?

Generally, yes. Though I'm not 100% on whether they are REQUIRED to use it(it probably varies from dept. to dept.), but I know they are issued light body armor.

trueblue1776

May 4, 2007, 09:36 PM

theken, you can buy any class you want, up to level 99 Super-Ninja, Level 100 Super-Ninja is strength/speed enhancing and was outlawed last year.

All departments that I know of require armor for any standard armed duty. Most require IIA or higher.

theken206

May 4, 2007, 10:55 PM

hehehehehehe, well in that case I think I know what im going to buy myself for my upcoming birthday. I was thinking about picking up myself a lever action but some body armor and a carrier might just be what im looking for.

trueblue1776

May 4, 2007, 11:03 PM

armor and a carrier? it's usually a package deal. Armor is neat but after you sweat your hiney off in the Texas sun and end up smelling like swamp nuts you may have a change of heart.

I wear one for work every day but I hate it, it can save your life, so can not getting shot at.

pcf

May 4, 2007, 11:05 PM

from Title 10 of the Texas Penal Code

§ 46.041. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY
FELON. (a) In this section, "metal or body armor" means any body
covering manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of
protecting a person against gunfire.
(b) A person who has been convicted of a felony commits an
offense if after the conviction the person possesses metal or body
armor.
(c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third
degree.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 452, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

As long as, you are not a convicted felon, you can possess body armor. You can wear it anywhere and anytime you like, even while committing a felony.

Many places sale to LEO only due to manufacturers' restrictions.

The Unknown User

May 4, 2007, 11:38 PM

Since we're on the topic of it, what's the "standard" level body armor, and what's a good manufacturer?

trueblue1776

May 5, 2007, 12:45 AM

whoops

trueblue1776

May 5, 2007, 12:46 AM

The big boys are Second Chance and Point Blank, there is another big company but it escapes me at the moment. I believe the standard for most departments is IIA, it is for all that I know of but many dept. just give an allowance for armor and don't really care what the officer buys.

Mine is in my truck right now and it's raining otherwise I'd get it and tell you what calibers it will stop, IIA will stop common pistol and revolver calibers.

II stops pistol and revolver with exception of .44 mag
IIA same as above and stops .44mag

I think....

Geronimo45

May 5, 2007, 01:27 AM

TrueBlue, you've got that backwards. The 'A' tacked on the end means it's weaker than the regular stuff. IIA's not as tough as II, IIIA's not as tough as III.
According to the BulletProofMe.com site: (they sell surplus body armor - pretty good prices, too)

IIIA seems to be the first on listed capable of taking .44 Magnum... and there, they say:
44 Magnum Lead Semi-Wadcutter at ~1,400 fps

Now, Level II or IIA might stop a .44 Magnum - but it's not required to do so by NIJ standards, IIRC.

SalTx

May 5, 2007, 01:41 AM

On an old, rarely used, PACA IIa, I found laying around in a supply closet, I fired a magazine full of corbon 135 grain, 40sw, from a 5 bbl, beretta, point blank and did not penetrate, although got some burns on the material, kind of melted some of the stuff. I think most would work for most pistols you'd encounter.

trueblue1776

May 5, 2007, 02:47 AM

My bad, I guess mine works because I've never been shot.:D Maybe it's just my winning smile and my roughish good looks.

Soybomb

May 5, 2007, 07:42 AM

Since we're on the topic of it, what's the "standard" level body armor, and what's a good manufacturer?
lvl 3a for maximum protection, level 2 for most handguns and something that will be potentially concealable. Look for 100% woven kevlar like the US armor enforcer classic line.